CAST

Stephen Berg(Jeff, Alan, Dave, Austin) is excited to return to the Blank Canvas Theatre stage! He graduated with a BA in Dramatic Arts from Case Western Reserve University and has remained an actor in the area since then. At this venue, he previously appeared in Night of the Living Dead (Tom), High Fidelity (Bruce Springsteen), and Bat Boy: the Musical (Pan). Other prior credits include Taming of the Shrew (Hortensio), The Flick (Sam), Avenue Q (Nicky), Best Man (Marcus), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Adam), and Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Sweeney Todd). He sends love to his friends, family, and YOU, for being here.

John Busser (Jerry, Capt. Ramirez, Director and Author) makes his directorial debut with this show. You may recognize John from Blank Canvas Theatre’s production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Freddy). Other recent credits include The Revisionist (Zenon), Selfies at the Clown Motel (Rob), Rasheeda Speaking (Dr. Williams), and Hook and Smee (Pirate Captain). He has also been a regular cast member of Flanagan's Wake (Father and Mayor), which recently completed its eighth season. He helps run Cleveland Public Theatre's writers’ workshop, The Dark Room, and has had some of his written work performed in both Cleveland and Columbus.

Vince DelCalzo (Grandpa, George F, Satan, Ogilvy) is looking forward to his debut at Blank Canvas Theatre and this production of Children’sLetters to Satan. A veteran of local theater, Vince has been seen in Fiddler onthe Roof (Tevye), Urinetown, Rumors, On Golden Pond, Wait Until Dark, and Witness For The Prosecution, as well as The Odd Couple, Wait Until Dark, Miracle on 34th Street, 12 Angry Jurors, and The Man who Came to Dinner. He’s also an avid golfer and a diehard optimist regarding Cleveland sports teams, and regularly continues his search for the perfect cocktail. Vince wants to thank his family and friends (without whom he’d never get any applause) for their support.

Matt Dodds (Man, Patterson, Damien) is honored to be performing in his first Blank Canvas Theatre production, and wishes to thank all who helped make it possible. He has been previously seen in Spotlight Theater's Talk Radio, along with a variety of The University of Akron’s Main Stage productions including Spring Awakening, Hedda Gabler, and Blood Wedding. Having earned a Bachelor's Degree earlier this year, Matt looks forward to exploring creative endeavors both onstage and off post-graduation.

Eric S. Grow (George, Glenn, Brandon, Vega) is honored to be making his debut at Blank Canvas Theatre. He has performed in the Akron/Cleveland area at East Cleveland Theatre and Western Reserve Playhouse. Recent credits include Fall of the House of Usher (Ed Allen) and It Runs In The Family (Dr. Mike Connolly). Eric has attended The Houde School of Acting for several years, taking scene study, Meisner training, and improvisation courses. Eric has also performed film work during the 2016 / 2017 season. Eric extends a sincere thank you to Patrick Ciamacco and Director John Busser for this wonderful opportunity.

Lysa Kenney(Nun, Barbara, Arionna) is thrilled to be back after a long mommy hiatus. Audiences probably won’t remember, but she once had a long history of performing at many local theatres, including the Hanna Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Cassidy Theatre, and Cain Park, to name a few. She’s not sure why everybody thinks she makes a great nun, but there seems to be a trend. Lysa is honored to join the ranks of actors at BCT, and hopes to do right by these “Mothers.”

Greg Mandryk (Steve, Al, Harvey, Dash) was last seen on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage in Glengarry Glen Ross (James Lingk) and Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Sagot).He thanks John for the opportunity to play with this wonderful cast, and his bride-to-be, Pam, for letting him sneak off to rehearsals.

Nicole McLaughlin-Lublin (Brenda, Gretchen, Greco)is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut! Recent area credits include BOB: A Life in Five Acts (Chorus One) and The Pillowman (Mother) at convergence-continuum, A Streetcar Named Desire (Stella) at Cassidy Theatre, and The Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival at Dobama Theatre. She is co-founder of Cleveland Actors’ Play Date, a play reading/networking group for local actors, and last year she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in her first short film, A Far More Pleasing Sound. Nicole is also a certified yoga teacher and co-manager of Firehouse Yoga in Lakewood. Huge thanks to John and Patrick for this opportunity! For JPH & AR. nicolemclaughlinlublin.com

Grace Mitri (Vanessa, Barbara Sue, Tess) is thrilled to be making her debut on the Blank Canvas Theatre stage with this fun, fun show. She was most recently seen this summer in The Taming of the Shrew (Tranio) with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, The Leader (Girl-Friend) with Cesear's Forum, and Western Reserve Playhouse's Half Dozen. Grace is an alumna of the CWRU Theatre Department where she earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts (Acting). Her acting studies continued at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts with a focus on Shakespeare and Restoration Comedy, and then at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York to study Meisner technique. Some favorite past credits include The Last Five Years (Cathy), The Underpants (Louise), Julius Caesar (Decius Brutus), and Evil Dead- The Musical (Cheryl). When she’s not onstage, you can find her bartending or face painting (or both at the same time if you're lucky). Special thanks to John Busser for including me in his delightful new work!

Elise Pakiela(Cassie, Molly) is thrilled to make her Blank Canvas Theatre debut! Credits include Wait Until Dark (Gloria) at Idaho Shakespeare Festival/Great Lakes Theater, The Crucible (Betty Parris) at Cleveland Play House, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and Henry V at Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Annie (Kate), The Children’s Hour (Rosalie), and Young Frankenstein at Beck Center for the Arts, The Giver (Lily) at Players Guild Theatre, The Devil’s Disciple (Essie) at Coach House Theatre, and Shrek the Musical (Young Fiona) at Mercury Theatre Company. New York City performances include Broadway Kidz Backwards at Feinstein’s/54 Below and Songs for Story Shifters at Stage 72. Elise is an alumna of Broadway Artists Alliance of NYC and the Dobama Emerging Actors Program, where she appeared in productions of The Persians and The Trojan Women. Many thanks to John, Patrick, and everyone at Blank Canvas Theatre, and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Sean, and Miles. www.elisepakiela.com

Whitney Miller (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be joining Blank Canvas Theatre for the first time. She’s recently kept herself busy as Stage Manager for Forbidden Broadway (Western Reserve Playhouse), I Do, I Do (Theatre in the Circle), Songs for a New World (Independence Community Theatre), and A Fairly Potter Christmas Carol (Ziegfeld Theater in Ogden, Utah). Whitney graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in Chemical Engineering, but spent most of her time with the CWRU Footlighters. Have a laugh and enjoy the show!